Floriade (Canberra) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Floriade
Floriade in 2013
Genre	Spring flower show and festival
Date(s)	September to October (Spring)
Begins	14 September 2024
Ends	13 October 2024
Frequency	Annual
Location(s)	Commonwealth Park, Canberra, Australia
Inaugurated	1988
Most recent	2023
Attendance	507,550 (2019: Record) 481,854 (2014: Previous record) 427,768 (2022) 433,000 (2023)
Website	https://floriadeaustralia.com/

A glorious and extensive display of tulips is a highlight of Floriade

Floriade is a super fun flower and entertainment festival held every year in Canberra, Australia. It takes place in Commonwealth Park, right by the beautiful Lake Burley Griffin. Imagine seeing huge displays of colorful flowers, especially spring bulbs, mixed with cool sculptures and other art!

The name Floriade comes from a Latin word, floriat, which means "to design with flowers." It's a perfect name for this amazing event!

People from all over Australia and even other countries visit Floriade in spring, usually from mid-September to mid-October. It's a really important event for tourism in the Australian Capital Territory. Many people call it "Australia's Celebration of Spring." The best part is that it's free to enter!

In 2020 and 2021, the main festival in Commonwealth Park couldn't happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But instead of canceling completely, the organizers came up with a clever idea called Floriade: Reimagined. They planted the flowers in over 100 different spots all around Canberra, creating a "Tulip Trail" for everyone to enjoy safely.

Discovering Floriade's History

How Floriade Began

Floriade was the brilliant idea of Christiaan Slotemaker de Bruine, a Landscape Architect in Canberra. He started planning it in 1986. He was inspired by the famous 'Keukenhof' garden in the Netherlands, which is also known for its stunning flower displays.

Christiaan worked with Peter Sutton, a horticulturist, to bring his vision to life. They designed the gardens, arranged for music and sculptures, and even helped buy all the flower bulbs. Together, they built the first Floriade in Commonwealth Park with the help of City Parks staff.

The very first Floriade celebrated Australia's many cultures. It even featured special flower designs inspired by Dutch and Aboriginal art. The Netherlands Embassy and the Bicentennial Authority helped sponsor this first event. Christiaan and Peter continued their successful partnership for the next two years, making Floriade a big hit!

Floriade Through the Years

Floriade first started in 1988. It was a special event to celebrate Canberra's 75th birthday and Australia's Bicentenary (200 years since European settlement). Everyone loved it so much that it became an annual festival! Each year, Floriade has a new and exciting theme.

In 2020, the main event in Commonwealth Park was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the one million bulbs and annuals (flowers that bloom for one season) that would have been on display were still used! They were planted in over 130 different places across Canberra. This created a "Tulip Trail" through the city and suburbs, called Floriade: Reimagined. About 300,000 of these plants were also given to community groups, schools, and local residents to plant in their own areas.

In 2021, Floriade was again canceled in Commonwealth Park because of Covid rules. Just like in 2020, the flowers were shared and planted all around Canberra for everyone to enjoy.

What Does "Floriade" Mean?

When the festival was first announced in 1987, people said the word "floriade" meant "to decorate with floral designs."

Later, it was explained that "floriade" comes from a Latin verb form, "floreat." This word comes from "floreo," which means "to be decked or covered with flowers." So, "Floriade" can also mean "let it bloom"! It's a beautiful way to describe a festival full of blooming flowers.

In 2005, there was a small issue when another garden in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, tried to use the name "Floriade." To avoid confusion, they changed their festival name to Festival of Flowers in 2006.

Art and Fun at Floriade

Floriade is not just about flowers; it's also a place for amazing public art and culture. Every year, new artworks are created and placed within the Floriade gardens. Some of these art pieces even stay there after the festival ends! Floriade also features lots of live music, cultural celebrations, and fun activities for everyone.

Gnome Decorating Competition

One of the most popular and kid-friendly parts of Floriade is the gnome decorating competition! For many years, schools, aged care homes, and businesses have joined in the fun.

The first gnome competition was in 2000. About 5,000 gnomes were made and sold to raise money for a charity called Koomari. The winning gnome, named Stanley Patches, is now kept at the Canberra Museum and Gallery.

Since 2005, the Floriade Gnome Gnoll event has been managed by the Rotary Club of Canberra East. The money raised goes to help local and international projects. In 2005, the theme was Rock 'n Roll, and people decorated gnomes to look like band members. Some famous examples include gnomes dressed as the Australian children's entertainers, The Wiggles (renamed The Gniggles), and the super popular band, KISS, submitted by Weetangera Primary School.

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  The Gniggles

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  KISS

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  Camouflaged Gnomes painted by children of the Preschool at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, 2013

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  Dragon boat gnomes

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  Canberra 100th Anniversary symbol, 2013

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  A picture of a sand Australian War Memorial at Floriade 2007, Canberra.

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  Zebras (2010): Stopper, Reviver, Survivor, Dasher, (named after the "Driver Reviver" stop at the Wheatley stop at Lake George where they were first installed) and the new baby, George.

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  Massed tulips at Floriade at night

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  Citroën 2CV utility truck, being used as a garden, 2014

Floriade's Exciting Themes

Every year, Floriade chooses a special theme that guides the design of the flower beds and the types of entertainment. Here are some of the past themes:

Floriade NightFest: Fun After Dark

From 1989 to the late 1990s, Floriade had special "Floriade by Night" events. These included food, cool lighting displays, stalls, and entertainment after the sun went down. These night events were free and ran for several evenings.

Night openings returned in 2008, now called NightFest. This is a ticketed event, meaning you need to buy a ticket to go. NightFest offers live music, comedy shows, amazing acrobatics, shopping, and even outdoor movies! It's a magical way to experience Floriade after dark.

Floriade's Big Numbers

Floriade is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere! That means it's the biggest one south of the equator. Over 300,000 people visit Floriade every year. In 2018, more than 480,000 people attended, and in 2019, it set a new record with over 507,000 visitors!

As mentioned, there is no entry fee to the festival. There were plans to charge an entry fee in 1998, but people were very upset about it, so the idea was dropped.

Floriade also brings a lot of money to Canberra. For example, visitors to Floriade in 2013 spent almost $40 million. In 2019, the last time the festival was held in person before the pandemic, it brought over $44 million to the ACT economy.

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  1997

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  2001

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  2007

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  2008

See also

• Gardening in Australia
• Floriade in the Netherlands
• Keukenhof annual flower festival in the Netherlands
• Spring Festival
• List of festivals in Australia